Optical microcantilever, manufacturing method thereof, and optical microcantilever holder

ABSTRACT

An optical microcantilever capable of reducing loss when propagating light. An optical microcantilever  10  comprises a support  1 , an optical waveguide  2 , a light-blocking film  3 , a reflecting film  4 , a pointed tip  5 , a microscopic aperture  6  formed at the end of the tip  5 , and a mirror  7  for reflecting propagating light H propagated from a light input/output end  8  of the optical waveguide  2  towards the microscopic aperture  6.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an optical microcantilever capable ofeffectively propagating light, and a manufacturing method thereof, and amicrocantilever holder for fixing an optical element actuated by theoptical microcantilever and light incident to the opticalmicrocantilever, and light outputted from the optical microcantilever.

BACKGROUND ART

With such scanning near field microscopes, the tip of a rectilinearoptical fiber probe maintained perpendicular to the sample is made tovibrate horizontally with respect to the sample surface and changes inthe amplitude of vibrations occurring due to the shear force between thesample surface and the tip of the optical fiber are detected. Changes inthe amplitude are detected by irradiating the tip of the optical fiberprobe with laser light and detecting changes in the shadow of the tip. Agap between the tip of the optical fiber probe and the surface of thematerial is kept fixed by moving the sample using a fine-motionmechanism so that the amplitude of the vibrations of the optical fiberprobe are constant, and the shape of the surface is detected and theoptical permeability of the sample measured from the intensity of asignal inputted to the fine-motion mechanism.

There is also proposed (in Japanese Patent Publication Laid-open No.Hei. 7-17452) a scanning near field atomic force microscope where nearfield light is generated at the tip of an optical fiber probe as aresult of introducing laser light into an optical fiber probesimultaneously with an AFM operation employing the pointed optical fiberprobe as a cantilever for an atomic force microscope (hereinafterreferred to as AFM) and the shape of the surface of a sample is detectedand the optical characteristics of the sample are measured using themutual interaction between the generated near field light and thesample. FIG. 12 is a side cross-section of a related example of anoptical waveguide probe. This optical waveguide probe 110 employs anoptical waveguide 101 as an optical fiber and the optical waveguide 101is surrounded by a metal film 102. A pointed tip 103 is formed at oneend of the optical waveguide probe 110 and a microscopic aperture 104for generating near field light is provided at the end of the tip 103.The tip 103 is formed by bending the tip of the optical waveguide probe110 around towards the sample (not shown).

Microcantilevers of the kind shown in FIG. 13 are well known in therelated art (T. Niwa et al., Journal of Microscopy, vol. 194, pt. 2/3,pp. 388-392). At an optical microcantilever 120, an optical waveguide111 is laminated from a core layer and a cladding layer and a metal film112 is provided at the surface of the optical waveguide 111. A pointedtip 119 is formed at one end of the optical mircocantilever 120 and asupport section 114 for fixing the optical microcantilever 120 is formedat the other end of the optical microcantilever 120. A microscopicaperture 113 for generating near field light is provided at the end ofthe tip 119.

The end of the optical microcantilever 120 at which the tip 119 isformed is referred to as the free end of the cantilever, and the opticalwaveguide end where the support section 114 is formed is referred to asthe incident light end 117. The free end is bent in such a manner thatthe microscopic aperture 113 becomes in close proximity to the sample(not shown), and light propagated from the incident light end 117 entersthe optical waveguide 111

An optical fiber guide channel 115 for fixing the optical fiber isformed at the support section 114. FIG. 14 shows the situation when anoptical fiber 130 is fixed to the optical fiber guide channel 115. Lightpropagating from the optical fiber 130 enters the optical waveguide 111via the incident light end 117 and is guided to the microscopic aperture113 by the optical waveguide 111. Near field light is generated in thevicinity of the microscopic aperture 113 as a result of propagatinglight attempting to pass through the microscopic aperture 113.Conversely, near field light generated at the surface of the sample isscattered by the microscopic aperture 113 so as to generate propagatinglight and this propagating light can be detected at the incident lightend 117 via the microscopic aperture 113 and the optical waveguide 111.Installation of the optical fiber 130 is straightforward because theoptical fiber guide channel 115 is provided at the support section 114and there is little trouble involved in aligning the opticalmicrocantilever 120 and the optical fiber 130 during changing, etc.

However, productivity for the optical waveguide probe 110 is poorbecause the optical fiber 101 is employed as a material, which involvesa large number of steps and is made manually. Further, even if theoptical fiber 101 is covered in the metal film 102, propagating lightloss occurs at locations where the optical fiber 101 is bent and lightis therefore not propagated in an efficient manner, with this lossbecoming more substantial as the angle of bending becomes more dramatic.Conversely, if the angle of bending is made smoother, the optical fiberprobe becomes longer and handling therefore becomes more troublesome.

The optical microcantilever 120 has superior productivity and uniformitybut loss of propagating light occurs at the optical waveguide 111 evenwhen the metal film 112 is provided at the surface of the opticalwaveguide 111 and the propagating light cannot be propagated in aneffective manner. In this manufacturing process, a smooth slopingsurface 116 occurs between the incident light end 117 and the opticalfiber guide channel 115 as shown in FIG. 14 and it is thereforedifficult to get the optical fiber 130 sufficiently close to theincident light end 117 and the efficiency of the incident light is poor,i.e. coupling loss increases. Light is scattered at the incident lightend 117 of the optical microcantilever 120 while light is made to passthrough the incident light end 117 by the optical fiber 130 andscattered light also propagates in the direction of the microscopicaperture 113. This therefore causes the S/N ratio of a light image forthe scanning type near field microscope to fall.

In order to resolve the aforementioned problems it is therefore theobject of the present invention to provide an optical microcantileverbar capable of admitting and propagating light in an efficient manner,and a manufacturing method for making this kind of opticalmicrocantilever. It is a further object to provide an opticalmicrocantilever holder for supporting the optical microcantilever barand an optical element. It is a still further object to provide anoptical microcantilever bar capable of improving an S/N ratio of a lightimage of a scanning near field microscope.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 1 is an optical microcantilever for use with ascanning near field microscope, comprising an optical waveguide, havinga light input/output end and a free end, for propagating light, a tipformed at the free end, with a microscopic aperture at an end thereof,and reflecting means for reflecting light propagated from the lightinput/output end in such a manner that the light is guided towards themicroscopic aperture, or reflecting light propagated from themicroscopic aperture towards the light input/output end.

The above optical microcantilever is provided with reflecting means forreflecting light propagated from the light input/output end in such amanner that the light is guided towards the microscopic aperture, orreflecting light propagated from the microscopic aperture towards thelight input/output end. This reflecting means reflects propagating lightin an efficient manner and reduces loss in light propagated towards themicroscopic aperture.

Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 2 is an opticalmicrocantilever for use with a scanning near field microscope,comprising an optical waveguide, having a light input/output end and afree end and a nose section at an angle with respect to an optical axisof propagating light passing through the light input/output end, forpropagating light, a tip formed at the free end, with a microscopicaperture at an end thereof, reflecting means for reflecting lightpropagated from the light input/output end in such a manner that thelight is guided towards the microscopic aperture, or reflecting lightpropagated from the microscopic aperture towards the light input/outputend.

The above optical microcantilever is provided with reflecting means forreflecting light propagated from the light input/output end in such amanner that the light is guided towards the microscopic aperture, orreflecting light propagated from the microscopic aperture towards thelight input/output end, and a portion having an angle with respect to anoptical axis of propagating light passing through the light input/outputend. This reflecting means reflects propagating light in an efficientmanner and reduces loss in light propagated towards the microscopicaperture. It is therefore possible to observe the surface of a materialhaving a large step by adjusting the length of the portion having anangle with respect to the optical axis of the propagating light passingthrough the light input/output end.

The optical microcantilever of claim 3 is the optical microcantilever ofclaim 1 or claim 2, where at least part of the optical waveguidecomprises a core, and cladding deposited on one side of the core, orboth sides of the core, or deposited so as to surround the core.

Because the optical waveguide of this optical microcantilever comprisesa core, and cladding deposited on one side of the core, or both sides ofthe core, or deposited so as to surround the core, propagating lightpropagated by the optical waveguide is prevented from leaking to theoutside, and the propagating light is propagated within the opticalwaveguide under conditions of total reflection.

The optical microcantilever of claim 4 is the optical microcantilever ofany one of claims 1 to 3, where a light-blocking film is provided on theoptical waveguide at the side where the tip is formed, and a reflectingfilm is provided at the opposite side to the side where the tip isformed.

As a result of providing this optical microcantilever with alight-blocking film on the optical waveguide at the side where the tipis formed, and a reflecting film at the opposite side to the side wherethe tip is formed, propagating light propagated by the optical waveguideis prevented from leaking to the outside.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, a method ofmanufacturing an optical microcantilever of claim 5 is a method formanufacturing an optical microcantilever for use with a scanning nearfield microscope, including steps of forming a step to be taken as amold for an optical waveguide at the substrate, depositing a reflectingfilm on the substrate, depositing an optical waveguide on the reflectingfilm, forming a tip by working the optical waveguide, depositing alight-blocking film on the optical waveguide, forming a microscopicaperture at the end of the tip, and forming a supporting section byhaving the substrate remain on the side to be a light input/output endand removing the substrate on the side to be the free end.

This method of manufacturing an optical microcantilever includes thesteps of forming a step to be taken as a mold for an optical waveguideat the substrate, depositing a reflecting film on the substrate,depositing an optical waveguide on the reflecting film, forming a tip byworking the optical waveguide, depositing a light-blocking film on theoptical waveguide, forming a microscopic aperture at the end of the tip,and forming a supporting section by having the substrate remain on theside to be a light input/output end and removing the substrate on theside to be the free end.

The above optical microcantilever is provided with a reflecting film forreflecting light propagated from the light input/output end in such amanner that the light is guided towards the microscopic aperture, andreflecting light propagated from the microscopic aperture towards thelight input/output end so that propagating light can be reflected in anefficient manner and loss of propagating light can be reduced. Further,batch processing is possible for these processes by employing siliconprocessing, and optical microcantilevers with superior productivity anduniformity can therefore be made.

The method for manufacturing the optical microcantilever of claim 6 isthe method of manufacturing the optical microcantilever of claim 5,where an angle of the step formed in the step forming step is an angleenabling propagating light propagating from the light input/output endto be guided towards the microscopic aperture by the reflecting filmdeposited in the reflecting film depositing step, or is an angleenabling propagating light propagating from the microscopic aperture tobe guided towards the light input/output end.

In this method for manufacturing the optical microcantilever, the angleof the step formed in the step forming step is an angle that enablespropagating light propagating from the light input/output end to beguided towards the microscopic aperture by the reflecting film depositedin the reflecting film depositing step, or is an angle that enablespropagating light propagating from the microscopic aperture to be guidedtowards the light input/output end. The reflecting film formed in thismanner reflects propagating light in an efficient manner and reducesloss of propagating light.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 7 is an optical microcantilever comprising acantilever constituted by an optical waveguide, a supporting section forthe cantilever, the optical waveguide having a light input/output endand a free end, an optical element guide formed at the supportingsection for deciding a position of an optical element acting on lightentering the optical waveguide or on light exiting from the opticalwaveguide, and a channel provided between the light input/output end andthe optical element guide.

This optical microcantilever has a channel formed between the lightinput/output end of the optical waveguide and the optical element guide.By forming a channel between the light input/output end of the opticalwaveguide and the optical element guide, an inclined surface providingan obstacle between an optical element acting on light entering thelight input/output end and the optical waveguide or light outputted fromthe optical waveguide can be made substantially perpendicular and theoptical element can therefore be located close to the light input/outputend.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, a method ofmanufacturing an optical microcantilever of claim 8 is a method formanufacturing an optical microcantilever for use with a scanning nearfield microscope, comprising the steps of forming a step to be taken asa mold for an optical waveguide at the substrate, forming an opticalelement guide at the substrate, depositing an optical waveguide on thesubstrate, forming a light input/output end of the optical waveguide,forming a channel by working the substrate between the lightinput/output end and the optical element guide, exposing the opticalelement guide by removing the optical waveguide on the optical elementguide, and forming a supporting section by having the substrate remainon the side to be a light input/output end and removing the substrate onthe side to be the free end.

This method of manufacturing an optical microcantilever includes thesteps of forming a step to be taken as a mold for an optical waveguideat the substrate, forming an optical element guide at the substrate,depositing an optical waveguide on the substrate, forming a lightinput/output end of the optical waveguide, forming a channel by workingthe substrate between the light input/output end and the optical elementguide, exposing the optical element guide by removing the opticalwaveguide on the optical element guide, and forming a supporting sectionby having the substrate remain on the side to be a light input/outputend and removing the substrate on the side to be the free end.

A guide for fixing an optical element acting on light entering the lightinput/output end and the optical waveguide or light outputted from theoptical waveguide can therefore be formed and an inclined surfaceproviding an obstacle between the light input/output end and the opticalelement can be made substantially perpendicular. Further, batchprocessing is possible for these processes by employing siliconprocessing, and optical microcantilevers with superior productivity anduniformity can therefore be made.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, a method ofmanufacturing an optical microcantilever of claim 9 is a method formanufacturing an optical microcantilever for use with a scanning nearfield microscope, including the steps of forming a step to be taken as amold for an optical waveguide at the substrate, forming an opticalelement guide at the substrate, depositing a reflecting film on thesubstrate, depositing an optical waveguide on the reflecting film,forming a tip by working the optical waveguide, depositing alight-blocking film on the optical waveguide, forming a microscopicaperture at the end of the tip, forming a light input/output end of theoptical waveguide by removing the light-blocking film, the opticalwaveguide, and the reflecting film, for the portion to constitute thelight input/output end of the optical waveguide; forming a channel byworking the substrate between the light input/output end and the opticalelement guide, exposing the optical element guide by removing thelight-blocking film, the optical waveguide, and the reflecting film onthe optical element guide, and forming a supporting section by havingthe substrate remain on the side to be a light input/output end andremoving the substrate on the side to be the free end.

This method of manufacturing an optical microcantilever includes thesteps of forming a step to be taken as a mold for an optical waveguideat the substrate, forming an optical element guide at the substrate,depositing a reflecting film on the substrate, depositing an opticalwaveguide on the reflecting film, forming a tip by working the opticalwaveguide, depositing a light-blocking film on the optical waveguide,forming a microscopic aperture at the end of the tip, forming a lightinput/output end of the optical waveguide by removing the light-blockingfilm, the optical waveguide, and the reflecting film, for the portion toconstitute the light input/output end of the optical waveguide, forminga channel by working the substrate between the light, input/output endand the optical element guide, exposing the optical element guide byremoving the light-blocking film, the optical waveguide, and thereflecting film on the optical element guide, and forming a supportingsection by having the substrate remain on the side to be a lightinput/output end and removing the substrate on the side to be the freeend.

As a result, a guide for fixing the optical element can be formed and aninclined surface providing an obstacle between the light input/outputend and the optical element can be made substantially perpendicular.Further, a reflecting film for reflecting light propagated from thelight input/output end in such a manner that the light is guided towardsthe microscopic aperture, or reflecting light propagated from themicroscopic aperture towards the light input/output end can be formed,propagating light can be reflected in an efficient manner, and there isno longer any loss of propagating light. Further, batch processing ispossible for these processes by employing silicon processing, andoptical microcantilevers with superior productivity and uniformity cantherefore be made.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, there is also providedan optical microcantilever guide for supporting an opticalmicrocantilever, and an optical element guide for deciding a position ofan optical element acting on light entering the optical microcantileveror on light exiting from the optical microcantilever.

With this optical microcantilever holder, an optical microcantileverguide for supporting an optical microcantilever and an optical elementguide for supporting the optical element at the optical microcantileverare formed. The optical microcantilever and the optical element cantherefore be aligned simply by installing the optical microcantilever atthe optical microcantilever guide and installing the optical element atthe optical element guide.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 11 is an optical microcantilever comprising acantilever-shaped optical waveguide, a tip formed at the free end of theoptical waveguide and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof,wherein the optical waveguide comprises: a light input/output end at afixed end thereof, a nose section formed between the free end and thefixed end at an angle with respect to an optical axis of the opticalwaveguide of the fixed end, and reflecting means for reflecting lightpropagating from the light input/output end in such a manner that thelight is guided towards the nose section, and/or reflecting lightdetected by the microscopic aperture and transmitted to the nose sectiontowards the light input/output end.

Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 12 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 11, wherein

the optical waveguide has a head section at the end of the nose sectionextending substantially parallel with the optical waveguide of the fixedend, and the tip is formed at the head section.

This optical microcantilever can measure samples with large steps as aresult of the nose section being provided, and the tip is easy to form.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 13 is the optical microcantilever of any one ofclaims 1 to 3, 11, or 12, wherein a lens is provided between the tip andthe reflecting means. Further, the optical microcantilever of claim 14is the optical microcantilever of claim 13 where the lens is a convexlens. Moreover, the optical microcantilever of claim 15 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 13 where the lens is a fresnel lens. Stillfurther, the optical microcantilever of claim 16 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 13 where the lens is a gradient-index lens.

Further, the light of a high energy density can be guided into themicroscopic aperture using the lens and near field light irradiated fromthe microscopic aperture can be of a substantial intensity. And/or,light detected by the microscopic aperture can be transmitted to adetector in an efficient manner as detection light by collimating thedetected light using the lens.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 17 is the optical microcantilever of any one ofclaims 1 to 3, or 11 to 16, wherein the tip of the opticalmicrocantilever employed in a scanning near field microscope is formedof a material having a higher refractive index than the opticalwaveguide.

Because the tip of this optical microcantilever is formed of a materialof a high refractive index, efficiency of irradiation of light from themicroscopic aperture and/or the efficiency of generation of near fieldlight to be detected and/or the efficiency of detection can beincreased.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 18 comprises a substrate, a cantilever-shapedoptical waveguide formed at the substrate, a tip, having a microscopicaperture at an end thereof, formed at a side of the free end of thecantilever, a light input/output end positioned at a side of the fixedend of the optical waveguide, and an optical element guide, formed onthe substrate on the side of the light input/output end, for deciding aposition of an optical element acting on light entering the opticalwaveguide and on light exiting from the optical waveguide, wherein thelight input/output end projects above the optical element guide.

With this optical microcantilever, a distance between the lightinput/output end and the optical element can be made shorter because thelight input/output end projects above the optical element guide. Theefficiency with which light entering the optical waveguide and/or lightoutputted from the optical waveguide can be introduced and/or detectedis therefore good.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 19 comprises a substrate, a cantilever-shapedoptical waveguide formed at the substrate, a light input/output endpositioned at a side of the fixed end of the optical waveguide, a tipprovided at the side of the free end of the cantilever and having amicroscopic aperture at an end thereof, and light-blocking means forensuring that light scattered by the light input/output end is nottransmitted in the direction of the tip.

Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 20 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 19, wherein the light-blocking means isarranged above the substrate and the optical waveguide, and provides awall for blocking the scattered light.

Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 21 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 19, wherein the light-blocking means comprisesa light-blocking agent located on the substrate and the opticalwaveguide and a light-blocking film located on the light-blocking agent,and the light-blocking film is located in such a manner as to cover atleast the light input/output end.

Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 22 is the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 19, wherein the light-blocking means comprises:a light-blocking film located on the substrate and the optical waveguideand a light-blocking agent arranged so as to cover at least part of anend of the light-blocking film, and the light-blocking film is locatedin such a manner as to cover at least the light input/output end.Further, an optical microcantilever of claim 23 is the opticalmicrocantilever of any one of claims 21 to 22, wherein thelight-blocking film is movable.

With this optical microcantilever, the light-blocking means ensures thatlight scattered by the light input/output end is not transmitted in thedirection of the tip and this therefore improves the S/N ratio ofoptical images of the scanning near field microscope so that thescanning speed of the scanning near field microscope can be improvedaccordingly. Deciding of the position of the optical element and thelight input/output end of the waveguide can be performed duringobservation because the light-blocking film is movable and positioningof the optical element can therefore be carried out in a precise andstraightforward manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a process for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a structural view illustrating a scanning near fieldmicroscope employing the optical microcantilever of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a secondembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a thirdembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the situation when an optical fiber isinstalled in an optical element guide of the optical microcantilever ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a process for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a process for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an optical microcantilever of a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the situation when an opticalmicrocantilever and an optical fiber are installed at the opticalmicrocantilever holder of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the situation when an opticalmicrocantilever and an optical fiber are installed at the opticalmicrocantilever holder of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-section of a related example of an optical fiberprobe.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-section of a related optical microcantileverhaving an optical fiber guide channel.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating the situation when an optical fiber isinstalled in an optical fiber guide of the optical microcantilever ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of a fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a method for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of a sixthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a method for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever of the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of a seventhembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a view showing the situation when an optical fiber is fixedto the optical microcantilever of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a method for forming a projecting section ofthe optical microcantilever of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is a further view showing a method for forming a projectingsection of the optical microcantilever of FIG. 19.

FIG. 23 is a view showing a pattern for an optical fiber channel of theoptical microcantilever of FIG. 19.

FIG. 24 is a structural view a section introducing light to an opticalmicrocantilever of an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of a ninthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of a tenthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever of aneleventh embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description, with reference to the appendeddrawings, of an optical microcantilever, a manufacturing method thereof,and an optical microcantilever holder of the present invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a firstembodiment of the present invention. An optical microcantilever 10comprises a support 1, an optical waveguide 2, a light-blocking film 3,a reflecting film 4, a pointed tip 5, a microscopic aperture 6 formed atthe end of the tip 5, and a mirror 7. The end of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 where the support 1 is formed is referred to as thelight inputting/outputting end and the end where the tip 5 is formed isreferred to as the free end.

The portion shown by L in FIG. 1 has a length of, for example, 50 to1000 μm, a width of, for example, 10 to 100 μm, and a thickness of, forexample, 4 to 10 μm. The height of the tip 5 is, for example, 5 to 10μm. The radius of the end of the tip 5 is 50 nm or less and isequivalent to an AFM cantilever tip. The size of the microscopicaperture 6 is 100 nm or less. The support 1 is composed of silicon,glass, or quartz etc., the optical waveguide 2 is composed of silicondioxide or polymide, etc., the light-blocking film 3 is composed ofchromium, aluminum, or titanium, etc., and the reflecting film 4 iscomposed of a high reflectance material such as gold or aluminum, etc.The mirror 7 is part of the reflecting film 4.

Propagating light outputted from a light source (not shown) enters theoptical waveguide 2 from the light input/output end 8 of the opticalwaveguide 2. The mirror 7 reflects propagating light H propagating fromthe light input/output end 8 so as to be guided towards the microscopicaperture 6. Near field light is then generated in the vicinity of themicroscopic aperture 6 as a result of the propagating light H attemptingto pass through the microscopic aperture 6. The propagating light cantherefore be efficiently reflected towards the microscopic aperture 6because the optical microcantilever 10 employs the mirror 7 to changethe light path of the propagating light H and the loss of propagatinglight can therefore be reduced.

Next, a description is given, using FIG. 2, of a method formanufacturing the optical microcantilever 10. First, as shown in FIG.2(a), a silicon substrate 50 is prepared, but if a mold is made this canalso be a glass or quartz substrate. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(b), a stepis formed in the silicon substrate 50 by anisotropic etching using apotassium hydroxide (KOH) or tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH), anda mold is made. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(c), a reflecting film material51 and a waveguide material 52 are deposited on the silicon substrate50. The reflecting film material 51 is a high reflectance material suchas gold or aluminum, and the waveguide material 52 is, for example,silicon dioxide or polymide, etc.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(d), a mask 53 of photoresist material is formedat the location on the waveguide material 52 that is to be the tip 5.The waveguide material 52 is then removed along the dotted line in thedrawing by dry or wet etching. As a result of this, the pointed tip 5shown in FIG. 2(e) is formed. Unrequired portions of the reflecting filmmaterial 51 can be removed together with forming the tip or can beremoved in a later process. Next, as shown in FIG. 2(f), alight-blocking film material 55 is deposited so as to cover the siliconsubstrate 50, the reflecting film material 51 and the waveguide material52. The light-blocking film material 55 is made of, for example,chromium, aluminum or titanium, etc.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2(g), a mask 56 of photoresist material is formedon the waveguide material 55. The light-blocking film material 55 isthen removed from the end of the tip 5 by dry or wet etching and themicroscopic aperture 6 (refer to FIG. 2(h)) is formed. Finally, as shownin FIG. 2(h), the silicon substrate 50 that becomes the light inputoutput end remains, and the optical microcantilever 10 is formed byetching off the silicon substrate 50 on the side of the free end.

The microscopic aperture 6 at the end of the tip 5 is formed at aposition where light propagating in the waveguide material 52 isreflected towards the microscopic aperture 6 by the reflecting filmmaterial 51 deposited at the step of the silicon substrate 50.

FIG. 3 is a view of a configuration of a scanning near field microscopeemploying the optical microcantilever 10. A scanning near fieldmicroscope 1000 comprises the optical microcantilever 10, a light source509, a lens 510 for focussing light propagating from the light source509 and irradiating this light to the light waveguide of the opticalmicrocantilever 10, a prism 502 for reflecting propagating lightobtained by scattering of near field light generated at the end of theoptical microcantilever 10 located below a sample 501, a lens 505 forfocussing light propagating from the prism 502, and a photodetector 506for receiving propagating light focussed by the lens 505.

A laser oscillator 512 for generating laser light, a mirror 513 forreflecting laser light reflected at the free end of the opticalmicrocantilever 10, and a photoelectric transducer 511 divided intoupper and lower parts for receiving laser light reflected at the mirror513 are provided above the optical microcantilever 10. A fine movementmechanism 503 and coarse movement mechanism 504 for controlling movementof the sample 501 and the prism 502 in three dimensions, a servomechanism 508 for driving the fine movement mechanism 503 and the coarsemovement mechanism 504, and a computer 507 for controlling the whole ofthe equipment are also provided. The scanning near field microscope 1000can observe in a dynamic mode or a contact mode.

Next, a description is given of the operation of the scanning near fieldmicroscope 1000. Laser light generated by the laser oscillator 512 isreflected by the free end of the optical microcantilever 10. The opticalmicrocantilever 10 then shifts due to interatomic force between the endof the optical microcantilever 10 and the sample 501. The angle ofreflection of laser light reflected by the free end of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 then shifts and this shift is detected by thephotoelectric transducer 511, with a signal detected by thephotoelectric transducer 511 being sent to the computer 507. Thecomputer 507 controls the approach of the optical microcantilever 10 tothe sample 501 and controls the fine movement mechanism 503 and thecoarse movement mechanism 504 using the servo mechanism 508 in such amanner that deflection of the optical microcantilever 10 while scanningthe surface does not exceed a set value.

Further, propagating light outputted from the light source 509 isfocused by the lens 510 and irradiated to the microscopic aperture viathe optical waveguide of the optical microcantilever 10 so that nearfield light is generated in the vicinity of the microscopic aperture ofthe optical microcantilever 10. Optical information of the sample 501reflected by the prism 502 is focussed by the lens 505 and guidedtowards the photodetector 506. The computer 507 receives the signal fromthe photodetector 506, detects optical information of the sample 501from this signal, and makes a topographical image and optical image.

According to the optical microcantilever 10 of the first embodiment,propagating light H can be efficiently converted to near field lightbecause propagating light H propagating from the light input/output end8 of the optical waveguide 2 is reflected by the mirror 7 so as to beguided to the microscopic aperture 6, and loss of propagating light cantherefore be reduced. Further, it is also possible to obtain highresolution topographical images and optical images because the tip 5 ispointed and the microscopic aperture can be made small. Moreover, lossof propagating light can be further reduced and near field light ofsubstantial intensity can be generated because the distance from themirror 7 to the microscopic aperture 6 is short. Handling is alsostraightforward because the overall size is small.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the first embodiment, the mirror 7 for reflectingthe propagating light H from the light input/output end towards themicroscopic aperture 6 can be formed and the optical microcantilever 10where loss of propagating light is reduced can be easily made. Further,batch processing is possible for the steps shown in FIG. 2 by employingsilicon processing, and optical microcantilevers with superiorproductivity and uniformity can therefore be made.

In the above, a optical waveguide 2 of a single layer structure is shownin the drawings. However, the optical waveguide 2 may also have a twolayer structure of a core of a high refractive index and cladding of alow refractive index, or a three layer structure, or a structure wherethe surroundings of the core are covered in cladding, so that leaking ofpropagating light to the outside is prevented. Further, at least part ofthe optical waveguide 2 may have a two layer structure of a core of ahigh refractive index and cladding of a low refractive index, or a threelayer structure, or a structure where the surroundings of the core arecovered in cladding. The same can also be said for the structure of theoptical waveguide 2 in the following embodiments. Still further, in theabove a description is given where the mirror 7 reflects the propagatinglight H propagating from the light input/output end 8 towards themicroscopic aperture 6 but reflection of propagating light H propagatingfrom the microscopic aperture 6 towards the light input/output end 8 bythe mirror 7 is also possible.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a secondembodiment of the present invention. Here, a nose section 9 is formed atthe optical microcantilever 20 at an angle with respect to an opticalaxis of propagating light propagating at the light input/output end 8 ofthe optical waveguide 2, and the tip 5 is formed at the end of this nosesection 9. Other aspects of the configuration are the same as theconfiguration for the optical microcantilever 10 of the first embodimentand are not described.

The nose section 9 is, for example, 1 to 200 μm long, and otherdimensions of the optical microcantilever 20 are the same as for theoptical microcantilever 10 of the first embodiment. This nose section 9can be formed by preparing a thick silicon substrate 50 and forming thestep formed in FIG. 2(b) so as to be long. The manufacturing stepsthereafter are the same as the manufacturing steps shown in FIG. 2(c) toFIG. 2(h). This optical microcantilever 20 is then employed in place ofthe optical microcantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope1000 of FIG. 3.

Propagating light generated by a light source (not shown) enters theoptical waveguide 2 from the light input/output end 8 of the opticalwaveguide 2. The mirror 7 reflects propagating light H propagating fromthe light input/output end 8 so as to be guided towards the microscopicaperture 6. Near field light is then generated in the vicinity of themicroscopic aperture 6 as a result of the propagating light H attemptingto pass through the microscopic aperture 6. The propagating light cantherefore be efficiently reflected towards the microscopic aperture 6because the optical microcantilever 20 employs the mirror 7 to changethe light path of the propagating light H and the loss of propagatinglight can therefore be reduced.

According the optical microcantilever 20 of the second embodiment,propagating light H can be efficiently reflected towards the microscopicaperture 6 because propagating light H propagating from the lightinput/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2 is reflected by the mirror7 so as to be guided to the microscopic aperture 6, and loss ofpropagating light can therefore be reduced. Observation of surfaces ofmaterials having substantial steps is therefore made possible byproviding the long nose section 9.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of a thirdembodiment of the present invention. This optical microcantilever 30comprises an optical fiber guide channel 32 for supporting an opticalfiber, and a channel 33 formed between the optical fiber guide channel32 and the light input/output end 8 of the optical waveguide 2, formedat a support section 31. The optical fiber guide channel 32 is, forexample, a V-shaped groove. Other aspects of the configuration are thesame as the configuration for the optical microcantilever 10 of thefirst embodiment and are not described. In addition to the opticalfiber, an optical element acting on light entering the optical waveguideand acting on light exiting from the optical waveguide can be, forexample, a light-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, a lens, a beamsplitter, or a photodiode, etc. In this case, the optical fiber guidechannel 32 is an optical element guide made to correspond to the statesof the respective elements.

FIG. 6 shows the situation when an optical fiber 130 is fixed to theoptical fiber guide channel 32 of the optical microcantilever 30. Lightpropagating from the optical fiber 130 enters the optical waveguide 2via the light input/output end 8 and is guided to the microscopicaperture 6 by the optical waveguide 2. There is therefore little troubleinvolved in aligning the optical microcantilever 30 and the opticalfiber 130 during changing, etc., because the optical fiber guide channel32 is formed in the optical microcantilever 30. Because a deep channel33 is formed between the light input/output end 8 and the optical fiberguide channel 32, an inclined surface (refer to FIG. 14) that providedan obstacle in the related art no longer provides an obstacle, and theoptical fiber 130 can therefore be brought close to the lightinput/output end 8. Coupling loss between the optical fiber 130 and theoptical waveguide 2 can therefore be reduced, the intensity ofpropagating light entering the optical waveguide 2 can be made moresubstantial, and near field light of a stronger intensity can begenerated from the microscopic aperture 6.

Next, a description is given, using FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, of a method formanufacturing the optical microcantilever 30. First, as shown in FIG.7(a), a silicon substrate 70 is prepared, but if a mold is made this canalso be a glass or quartz substrate. Next, as shown in FIG. 7(b), steps71 and 72 and the optical fiber guide channel 32 are formed at thesilicon substrate 70 by anisotropic etching using KOH or TMAH, and amold is made. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(c), a reflecting film material 74and a waveguide material 75 are deposited on the silicon substrate 70.The reflecting film material 74 is a high reflectance material such asgold or aluminum, and the waveguide material 75 is, for example, silicondioxide or polymide, etc.

After this, as shown in FIG. 7(d), waveguide material 75 deposited onthe step 71 is removed by dry or wet etching and a pointed tip 5 isformed. Then, as shown in FIG. 7(e), a light-blocking film material 77is deposited so as to cover the silicon substrate 70, the reflectingfilm material 74 and the waveguide material 75. The light-blocking filmmaterial 77 is then removed from the end of the tip 5 by dry or wetetching and the microscopic aperture 6 is formed. After this, as shownin FIG. 7(f), light-blocking film material 77, waveguide material 75 andreflecting film material 74 deposited on the step 72 is removed by dryor wet etching and the light input/output end 8 is formed.

After this, as shown in FIG. 8(g), the silicon substrate 70 is removedfrom between the light input/output end 8 and the optical fiber guidechannel 32 by dry or wet etching and the channel 33 deeper than theoptical fiber guide channel 73 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 8(h),reflecting film material 74, waveguide material 75 and light-blockingfilm material 77 deposited on the optical fiber guide channel 32 isremoved by dry or wet etching so that the optical fiber guide channel 32is exposed. Finally, as shown in FIG. 8(i), the silicon substrate 70that becomes the light input output end remains, and the opticalmicrocantilever 30 is formed by etching off the silicon substrate 70 onthe side of the free end.

According to the optical microcantilever 30 of the third embodiment,there is little trouble involved in aligning the optical microcantilever30 and the optical fiber 130 during changing, etc., because the opticalfiber guide channel 32 is formed. Further, by forming the deep channel33 between the light input/output end 8 and the optical fiber guidechannel 32, the optical, fiber 130 can be located close to the lightinput/output end 8, propagating light of increased intensity and reducedcoupling loss can be introduced at the optical waveguide 2, and nearfield light of substantial intensity can be generated from themicroscopic aperture 6.

This optical microcantilever 30 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.In this case, propagating light focussed by the lens 510 is guided tothe optical waveguide of the optical microcantilever 30 via the opticalfiber.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever 30 of the third embodiment, the optical microcantilever30 with the deep channel 33 formed between the light input/output end 8and the optical fiber guide channel 32 can be manufactured in astraightforward manner. Further, batch processing is possible for themanufacturing steps shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 by employing siliconprocessing, and optical microcantilevers with superior productivity anduniformity can therefore be made.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever holder of afourth embodiment of the present invention. V-shaped guide channels 42and 43 are formed in a substrate 41 of silicon, stainless steel orplastic of this optical microcantilever holder 40, and the guide channel43 is deeper than the guide channel 42.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show the situation when the optical microcantilever10 of the first embodiment and the optical fiber 130 are installed atthe optical microcantilever holder 40. In FIG. 10, the optical waveguideof the optical microcantilever 10 is installed in the guide channel 42and the optical fiber 130 is installed in the guide channel 43. On theother hand, in FIG. 11, the optical fiber 130 is installed in the guidechannel 42 and the optical microcantilever 10 is installed in the guidechannel 43. In the situation shown in FIG. 11 the tip of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 is located on the opposite side to the opticalmicrocantilever holder 40. It is therefore easier for the tip to be madecloser to the surface of the sample than in the situation shown in FIG.10 by the portion by where the substrate 41 does not exist between thesample and the tip. In addition to the optical fiber 130, an opticalelement acting on light entering the optical waveguide and acting onlight exiting from the optical waveguide can be, for example, alight-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, a lens, a beam splitter, ora photodiode, etc. In this case, the guide channel 42 and the guidechannel 43 are optical element guides made to correspond to the statesof the respective elements.

According the optical microcantilever holder 40 of the fourthembodiment, two guide channels are provided, with the opticalmicrocantilever being installed in one guide channel and the opticalfiber being installed in the other guide channel. This keeps the troubleinvolved in aligning the optical microcantilever and optical fiberduring changing etc., to a minimum.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 15 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever 80 of a fifthembodiment of the present invention. This optical microcantilever 80 hasa head 81 at the end of the nose section 9 of the opticalmicrocantilever 20 described for the second embodiment of the presentinvention. The head 81 has the tip 5, and the microscopic aperture 6 isformed at the end of the tip 5. The head 81 is 10 to 100 μm long, andother aspects of the configuration are the same as the configuration forthe optical microcantilever 10 of the first embodiment and are notdescribed.

Propagating light generated by a light source (not shown) enters theoptical waveguide 2 from the light input/output end 8. The mirror 7reflects propagating light H propagating from the light input/output end8 so as to be guided-towards the head 81. Near field light is generatedin the vicinity of the microscopic aperture 6 due to the component ofthe propagating light guide towards the head 81 attempting to passthrough the microscopic aperture 6. The propagating light can thereforebe efficiently reflected towards the microscopic aperture 6 because theoptical microcantilever 20 employs the mirror 7 to change the light pathof the propagating light H and the loss of propagating light cantherefore be reduced.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a method of manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever 80. In a method for manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever 80 having the head 81, as shown in FIG. 16(a),reflecting film material 51 and waveguide material 52 is deposited on astep formed at the silicon substrate 50. Next, as shown in FIG. 16(b), amask 53 is formed at the step formed at the silicon substrate 50, andthe tip 5 is formed by wet etching. The manufacturing steps thereafterare the same as the manufacturing steps shown in FIG. 2(e) to FIG. 2(h).This optical microcantilever 80 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

As described above, according to the optical microcantilever 80, inaddition to the effects described for the second embodiment, the shapeof the photomask used in photolithographic processing can be transferredin an accurate manner as a result of forming the tip 5 on the upper sideof the step formed at the silicon substrate 50 in the manufacturingstep. This means that the shape of the tip 5 of the opticalmicrocantilever 80 can be controlled in a superior manner.

Sixth Embodiment

FIG. 17 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever 90 of a sixthembodiment of the present invention. The tip 5 of the opticalmicrocantilever 90 is composed of tip material 91 having a higherrefractive index than the material composing the optical waveguide 2 anda lens 92 is provided at the surface boundary of the optical waveguide 2and the tip material 91. The lens 92 can comprise a convex lens andfresnel lenses etc. as shown in FIG. 17. The optical waveguide 2 of theoptical microcantilever 90 is formed directly on the support 1. Thereflecting film 7 of this optical microcantilever 90 can also be formedbetween the support 1 and the optical waveguide 2, as with the opticalmicrocantilever 10. The same can also be said for the presence of thereflecting film 7 between the support 1 and the optical waveguide 2 inthe preceding and subsequent embodiments. Other aspects of theconfiguration are the same as for the optical microcantilever 10 and arenot described.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating step of manufacturing the opticalmicrocantilever 90. In the method described in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b),waveguide material 52 is deposited on the silicon substrate 50 where thestep is formed, as shown in FIG. 18(a). Then, as shown in FIG. 18(b),the waveguide material 52 is flattened by methods such as polishing,grinding, or etching, etc. Next, as shown in FIG. 18(c), a mask 58 ofphotoresist is first formed and a concave shape for forming a convexlens is formed in the waveguide material using a method such as wetetching. Next, as shown in FIG. 18(d), tip material 91 is deposited by atechnique such as CVD, sputtering or spin coating, etc., a mask 53 isformed at the position where the tip 5 is to be formed, and the tip 5 isformed from the tip material using an anisotropic etching process suchas wet or dry etching. In the step described in FIG. 18(c), a Fresnellens can be formed at the surface boundary of the tip 5 and the opticalwaveguide 2 by forming a Fresnel lens shape on the waveguide material52. In the step described in FIG. 18(c), a gradient-index lens can beformed by giving the vicinity of the surface of the waveguide material52 a gradient-index using a method such as injecting the wave guidematerial 52 with ions, etc. The steps thereafter are the same as for themanufacturing method described in FIG. 2(e) to FIG. 2(h), and aretherefore not described. Finally, after the step described in FIG. 2(h),the reflecting film 7 is formed by methods such as sputtering or vacuumdeposition from the side of the support 1.

In FIG. 17, propagating light generated by a light source (not shown)enters the optical waveguide 2 from the light input/output end 8. Themirror 7 reflects propagating light H propagating from the lightinput/output end 8 so as to be guided towards the lens 92. Thepropagating light H is focussed in the vicinity of the microscopicaperture 6 by the lens 92 and near field light is generated in thevicinity of the microscopic aperture 6 by propagating light H attemptingto pass through the microscopic aperture 6. With the opticalmicrocantilever 80, light of a high energy density focused by the lens92 can be guided towards the microscopic aperture 6 and the intensity ofnear field light irradiated from the microscopic aperture 6 cantherefore be made substantial.

This optical microcantilever 90 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

According to the optical microcantilever 90 described above, in additionto the effects described for the first embodiment, the intensity of nearfield light irradiated from the microscopic aperture 6 is greater thanfor the optical microcantilever 10, and the S/N ration of an opticalsignal obtained by the scanning near field microscope 1000 can thereforebe improved so that the scanning speed of the scanning near fieldmicroscope can be improved accordingly.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a side cross-section of an optical microcantilever of aseventh embodiment of the present invention. With this opticalmicrocantilever 100, an optical fiber guide channel 32 for supporting anoptical fiber is formed at a support section 31, and the opticalwaveguide 2 has a projecting section 777 projecting above the opticalfiber guide 32. The optical fiber guide channel 32 is, for example, aV-shaped groove. Other aspects of the configuration are the same as theconfiguration for the optical microcantilever 10 of the first embodimentand are not described. In addition to an optical fiber, an opticalelement acting on light entering the optical waveguide or acting onlight exiting from the optical waveguide can be, for example, alight-emitting diode, a semiconductor laser, a lens, a beam splitter, ora photodiode, etc. In this case, the optical fiber guide channel 32 isan optical element guide which is made to correspond to the states ofthe respective elements.

FIG. 20 shows the situation when an optical fiber 130 is fixed to theoptical fiber guide channel 32 of the optical microcantilever 100. Lightpropagating from the optical fiber 130 enters the optical waveguide 2via the light input/output end 8 and is guided to the microscopicaperture 6 by the optical waveguide 2. There is therefore little troubleinvolved in aligning the optical microcantilever 100 and the opticalfiber 130 during changing of the optical microcantilever 100, etc.,because the optical fiber guide channel 32 is formed in the opticalmicrocantilever 100. Further, the optical fiber 130 can be located closeto the light input/output end 8 because the light input/output end 8 islocated above an inclined surface that presented an obstacle in therelated art (refer to FIG. 14). Coupling loss between the optical fiber130 and the optical waveguide 2 can therefore be reduced, the intensityof propagating light entering the optical waveguide 2 can be made moresubstantial, and near field light of a stronger intensity can begenerated from the microscopic aperture 6.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 are views describing a method for forming theprojecting section 777 of the optical microcantilever 100. The step ofthe situation shown in FIG. 21(a) is proceeded to using the methoddescribed in FIG. 2(a) to FIG. 2(e). When there is no reflecting film 7between the optical waveguide 2 and the support 1, the reflecting filmmaterial 51 is not deposited and the process may proceed. The followingis a description of the case where there is no reflecting film 7 betweenthe optical waveguide 2 and the support 1. Next, the waveguide material52 is patterned in the manner shown in FIG. 21(b) usingphotolithographic techniques and anisotropic etching. A mask 101 is thenformed as shown in FIG. 21(c). The mask 101 is composed of, for example,silicon nitride or silicon dioxide. An enlarged plan view of the portionenclosed by a dotted line in FIG. 21(c) is shown in FIG. 22(a), and across-section taken along line A-A of FIG. 22(a) is shown in FIG. 22(b).The optical fiber guide channel 32 is then formed as shown in FIG. 21(d)by anisotropic wet etching of TMAH or KOH while at the same time thecantilever composed of the optical waveguide 2 is released. An enlargedplan view of the portion enclosed by a dotted line in FIG. 21(d) isshown in FIG. 22(c), and a cross-section taken along line A-A of FIG.22(c) is shown in FIG. 22(d). The mask material 101 is then patterned asshown in FIG. 22(a) and the projecting section 777 is formed by carryingout crystal anisotropic etching. Next, as shown in FIG. 21(e),light-blocking material 55 and reflecting film material 51 is formed bysputtering or vacuum deposition, and a microscopic aperture is formed atthe end of the tip 5. Finally, the optical microcantilever 100 is formedby removing unnecessary portions of the optical fiber channel 32.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of the optical fiber channel 32. In addition tothe pattern for the optical fiber channel 32 described in FIG. 22(c),the optical fiber channels 32 shown in FIG. 23(a) and FIG. 23(b) canalso be formed by the step described in FIG. 21(d) by changing thepattern of the mask material 101 of FIG. 22(a). According to thestructure shown in FIG. 23(a), this step is simplified because it is notnecessary to remove unrequired portions of the optical fiber channel 32.Further, according to the structure shown in FIG. 23(b), the guideconsists of the portion shown by Y in the drawings and it is thereforeeasy to introduce the optical fiber into the optical fiber channel 32.

This optical microcantilever 100 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

As described above, according to the optical microcantilever 100 of thepresent invention, the effects obtained for the third embodiment can beobtained just with a process of forming the optical fiber guide channel32. The manufacturing process is therefore simplified and a lower costoptical microcantilever 100 can be provided. Further, according to thestructure shown in FIG. 23(b), handling is made easier because theoptical fiber can be installed in a straightforward manner.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 24 is a structural view of a section for introducing light into anoptical microcantilever of an eighth embodiment of the presentinvention.

A light introducing section of an optical microcantilever comprises acore 2 a and cladding 2 b of the optical waveguide 2 formed on thesupporting part 1, and a core 110 and cladding 111 of a lightpropagating body for introducing light into the optical waveguide 2. Thecore 2 a and the core 110 come into contact for a length L1, with a gapbetween the core 2 a and the core 110 being a few tens to a few hundredsof nm. The length L1 is 500 to 3000 μm. When propagating light H from alight source (not shown) enters the core 110, light leaking out from thecore 110 at the portion L1 combines with the core 2 a and propagatinglight H within the core 2 a can be propagated. FIG. 24(b) is aperspective view of the situation of FIG. 24(a). Just the core 2 a andthe core 110 are shown for simplicity. The width W1 of the core 2 a is 5to 100 μm and the width W2 of the core 110 is 3 to 50 cm and is smallerthan W1. Light can therefore be introduced into the core 2 a at a highcoupling efficiency with normal micrometer precision.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24(c) when the thickness of the core 110gradually becomes thinner, a light introducing section of a highercoupling efficiency than that shown in FIG. 24(a) can be obtained.

As described above, according to the light introducing section of theeighth embodiment of the present invention, a light introducing sectionhaving a higher coupling efficiency can be obtained in a straightforwardmanner.

Ninth Embodiment

FIG. 25 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever 200 of aninth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the structuralelements of the optical microcantilever 100, the optical microcantilever200 has a light-blocking wall 758. The light-blocking wall 758 comprisessilicone rubber in the form of resin or clay. The light-blocking wall isa few hundred μm to a few mm high and a few tens of μm to a few mmthick.

This optical microcantilever 200 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

Light scattered by the connecting part of the optical fiber 130 and theoptical waveguide 2 can then be prevented from leaking in the directionof the tip 5 by the light-blocking wall 758. According to this opticalmicrocantilever 1000, an optical image with a high S/N ratio can beobtained by a scanning near field microscope. When the sample beingmeasured is a luminescent material, damage to the material in the formof bleaching can be avoided. The scanning speed of the scanning nearfield microscope can then be improved as a result of obtaining anoptical signal with a high S/N ratio.

Tenth Embodiment

FIG. 26 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever 300 of atenth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the structuralelements of the optical microcantilever 100, the optical microcantilever300 has light-blocking material 759 and a light-blocking film 760. Thelight-blocking material 759 is formed on the light-blocking film 3. Thelight-blocking film 760 is fixed by the light-blocking material 759 andthe other end of the light-blocking film is covered by the output end ofthe optical fiber 130.

The light-blocking material 759 comprises silicone rubber in the form ofresin or clay. The light-blocking film 760 consists of a metal such asaluminum or copper etc. or silicone rubber in the form of a resin. Thelight-blocking material 759 is a few tens of μm to 1 mm thick, and thelight-blocking film 760 is a few tens to a few hundreds of μm thick. Thelight-blocking film 760 can therefore be moved by plastic or elasticdeformation.

This optical, microcantilever 300 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

According to this optical microcantilever 300, the effects described forthe ninth embodiment can be obtained with the thin light-blockingmaterial 759 and the light-blocking film 760 and the opticalmicrocantilever 300 can therefore be thinner than the opticalmicrocantilever 200. Further, as the light-blocking film 760 is movable,the light input/output end 8 can be made to be seen when deciding theposition of the optical fiber 130 and positioning of the optical elementcan therefore be carried out in an accurate manner.

Eleventh Embodiment

FIG. 27 is a structural view of an optical microcantilever 400 of atenth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the structuralelements of the optical microcantilever 100, the optical microcantilever400 has light-blocking material 759 and a light-blocking film 760. Thelight-blocking material 760 is directly fixed onto the light-blockingfilm 3 by the light-blocking material 759.

The light-blocking wall 759 comprises silicone rubber in the form ofresin or clay. The light-blocking film 760 consists of a metal such asaluminum or copper etc. or silicone rubber in the form of a resin. Thelight-blocking material 759 is a few tens of μm to 1 mm thick, and thelight-blocking film 760 is a few tens to a few hundreds of μm thick.

This optical microcantilever 400 is employed in place of the opticalmicrocantilever 10 of the scanning near field microscope 1000 of FIG. 3.

According to the optical microcantilever 400, in addition to the effectsdescribed in the eleventh embodiment, the optical microcantilever can bemade smaller than the optical microcantilever 300 described in the tenthembodiment because the thin light-blocking film 760 is fixed by the thinlight-blocking material 759. Further, the light-blocking material 759 isin direct contact with the air and can therefore be dried easily, whichmeans that the light-blocking film 760 can be fixed in a short time.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 1,there is provided a reflecting film for reflecting light propagated fromthe light input/output end in such a manner that the light is guidedtowards the microscopic aperture, or reflecting light propagated fromthe microscopic aperture towards the light input/output end. Loss ofpropagating light due to the generation of near field light cantherefore be reduced.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 2, there isprovided a portion having an angle with respect to an optical axis ofpropagating light passing through the light input/output end andmonitoring of surfaces of materials having substantial steps istherefore possible.

According to the optical microcantilever of claim 3, because the opticalwaveguide of this optical microcantilever comprises a core, and claddingdeposited on one side of the core, or both sides of the core, ordeposited so as to surround the core, propagating light propagated bythe optical waveguide is prevented from leaking to the outside, and thepropagating light is propagated within the optical waveguide underconditions of total reflection, so that light is propagated in anefficient manner.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 4,

as a result of providing this optical microcantilever with alight-blocking film on the optical waveguide at the side where the tipis formed, and a reflecting film at the opposite side to the side wherethe tip is formed, propagating light propagated by the optical waveguideis prevented from leaking to the outside, and the propagating light istherefore propagated in an efficient manner.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 5, this manufacturing method includes the stepsof forming a step of a prescribed angle at a substrate, depositing areflecting film on the substrate, depositing an optical waveguide on thereflecting film, working the reflecting film and the optical waveguideso as to form a tip, depositing a light-blocking film on the opticalwaveguide, forming a microscopic aperture at the end of the tip, andforming a supporting section by having substrate remain on the side tobe the light input/output end and removing the substrate on the side tobe the free end. Propagating light loss can therefore be reduced, and anoptical microcantilever with superior productivity and uniformity can bemade in a straightforward manner.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 6, the angle of the step formed in the stepforming step is an angle that enables propagating light propagating fromthe light input/output end to be guided towards the microscopic apertureby the reflecting film deposited in the reflecting film depositing step,or is an angle that enables propagating light propagating from themicroscopic aperture to be guided towards the light input/output end.The propagating light can therefore be reflected in an efficient mannerdue to the generation of the near field light and an opticalmicrocantilever where loss of propagating light is reduced can be easilymade.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 7, by forminga channel between the light input/output end of the optical waveguideand the optical element guide, the optical element can be located closeto the light input/output end and loss of propagating light can bereduced so that near field light of substantial intensity can begenerated.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 8, there are provided the steps of forming astep at least in the proximity of a location at the light input/outputend of the optical wave guide at the substrate, forming an opticalelement guide at the substrate, depositing an optical waveguide on thesubstrate, removing the optical waveguide at the location where the stepis formed in the step forming step so as to form the light input/outputend of the optical waveguide, forming a channel by working the substratebetween the light input/output end and the optical element guide,removing the optical waveguide on the optical element guide so as toexpose the optical element guide, and forming a supporting section byhaving substrate remain on the side to be the light input/output end andremoving the substrate on the side to be the free end. Propagating lightloss can therefore be reduced, and an optical microcantilever withsuperior productivity and uniformity can be made in a straightforwardmanner.

Further, according to the method of manufacturing an opticalmicrocantilever of claim 9, there are provided the steps of forming astep at least in the proximity of a location at the light input/outputend of the optical wave guide at the substrate, forming an opticalelement guide at the substrate, depositing a reflecting film on thesubstrate, depositing an optical waveguide on the reflecting film,working the optical waveguide so as to form a tip, depositing alight-blocking film on the optical waveguide, forming a microscopicaperture at the end of then tip, removing the light-blocking film,optical waveguide and reflecting film at the location where the step isformed in the step forming step so as to form the light input/output endof the optical waveguide, forming a channel by working the substratebetween the light input/output end and the optical element guide,removing the light-blocking film, optical waveguide, and reflecting filmon the optical element guide so as to expose the optical element guide,and forming a supporting section by having substrate remain on the sideto be the light input/output end and removing the substrate on the sideto be the free end. An optical microcantilever which can easily bealigned with the optical element and which has superior productivity anduniformity can therefore be obtained.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever holder of claim 10,there is provided an optical microcantilever guide for supporting theoptical microcantilever and an optical element guide for supporting anoptical element for introducing light into the optical microcantilever.The optical microcantilever and the optical element can therefore bealigned simply by installing the optical microcantilever at the opticalmicrocantilever guide and installing the optical element at the opticalelement guide and work involved in this alignment is kept to a minimum.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 11,monitoring of surfaces of materials having substantial steps is possibleusing the nose section. Further, according to the opticalmicrocantilever of claim 12, the tip can be formed with a flat headportion, and forming of the tip is therefore straightforward.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 13 to claim16, light of a high energy density can be guided into the microscopicaperture using the lens and near field light irradiated from themicroscopic aperture can be of a substantial intensity. Further, lightdetected by the microscopic aperture can be transmitted to a detector inan efficient manner as detection light by collimating the detected lightusing the lens.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 17, becausethe tip of this optical microcantilever is formed of a material of ahigh refractive index, efficiency of irradiation of light from themicroscopic aperture and/or the efficiency of generation of near fieldlight to be detected and/or the efficiency of detection can beincreased.

The S/N ratio of a light image can therefore be increased and thescanning speed be made faster for the scanning near field microscope.The efficiency of generation and/or detection of the near field light istherefore good, and an optical microcantilever suited to applications inthe fields of processing and analysis can therefore be provided.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 18, adistance between the light input/output end and the optical element canbe made shorter because the light input/output end projects above theoptical element guide. The efficiency with which light entering theoptical waveguide and/or light outputted from the optical waveguide canbe introduced and/or detected is therefore good.

Further, according to the optical microcantilever of claim 19 to claim23, the light-blocking means ensures that light scattered by the lightinput/output end is not transmitted in the direction of the tip and thistherefore improves the S/N ratio of optical images of the scanning nearfield microscope, so that the scanning speed of the scanning near fieldmicroscope can be improved accordingly. Further, deciding of theposition of the optical element and the light input/output end of thewaveguide can be performed during observation because the light-blockingfilm is movable and positioning of the optical element can therefore becarried out in a precise and straightforward manner.

1.-18. (canceled)
 19. An optical microcantilever employed in a scanningnear field microscope, comprising: a substrate; a cantilever-shapedoptical waveguide formed at the substrate; a light input/output endpositioned at a side of the fixed end of the optical waveguide; a tipprovided at the side of the free end of the cantilever and having amicroscopic aperture at an end thereof, and light-blocking means forensuring that light scattered by the light input/output end is nottransmitted in the direction of the tip.
 20. The optical microcantileverof claim 19, wherein at the optical microcantilever employed in ascanning near field microscope, the light-blocking means is arrangedabove the substrate and the optical waveguide, and provides a wall forblocking the scattered light. 21.-23. (canceled)